Green Energy ← Progressive Bloggers // Blogues progressistes

We Pivot: Who’s Laughing at America [And Why]

Jun

3

2017

When T$$$p says people are laughing at America, it’s because he thinks he is America. Here are some ways this is wrong, beyond the obvious. Read some of the King Arthur literature, stories of royalty and shit. The king is … [Read more]

Politics and its Discontents: Energy Democracy

Mar

11

2017

Sure, many will dismiss this as a Utopian socialist dream, especially given the neoliberal tenor of the times, but are there any other viable alternatives to global degradation and destruction? Recommend this Post

Politics and its Discontents: Energy Democracy

Mar

11

2017

Sure, many will dismiss this as a Utopian socialist dream, especially given the neoliberal tenor of the times, but are there any other viable alternatives to global degradation and destruction? Recommend this Post

We Pivot: Psst, Wanna Stop Protecting the Environment?

Feb

15

2017

On December 31, 2018, the US government will stop protecting the environment. If the Kill-the-EPA bill passes, the US government will certainly slow down protecting it until they blow out the EPA candle in 22.5 months. How is Congress doing … [Read more]

We Pivot: Another Nail in the Coffin of Carbon Energy

Jan

3

2017

While Statoil hasn’t fully divested from carbon energy, every little/big drift away from more carbon energy gets us closer to the Post-Carbon Energy Infrastructure! As we pivot to a new, cleaner world despite Trump, Trudeau and BC’s carbon-loving Christy Clark, … [Read more]

We Pivot: Embrace Climate and Gender Optimism!

Dec

21

2016

Welcome to the cusp of 2017. I can’t wait for 2016 to end: rough year. But as we pivot to a fresh new year with new challenges, let’s embrace climate and gender optimism when we can! Great climate news regarding … [Read more]

We Pivot: The Globe and Mail Just Punked the Leap Manifesto

Dec

1

2016

You’ll notice in this graphic that as the Leap Manifesto linked to an anti-pipeline op-ed in the Globe and Mail in Facebook, the subhead brutally misrepresented the article. Either it was an error, sadly, or it was an intentional opposite … [Read more]

We Pivot: This Week in “Huh?” Ivanka, Justin, Elon

Nov

19

2016

As we pivot to the new, sustainable world defeating this current wave of fascism and climate change deniers, let’s look back at this week to keep abreast of the contempt flung at us and where we can find hope. Remember, … [Read more]

We Pivot: Consent, Not Consultation, Or Else

Nov

7

2016

If you’re looking for what real leadership looks like, it’s this. UBCIC Grand Chief Stewart Phillip once again demonstrated what integrity looks like as the federal government once again tries to waffle on commitments and listening to the Supreme Court. Not only has the prime minister floated a trial balloon recently about how we don’t ...

We Pivot: Let’s Fix Canada’s Green Energy Posture

Nov

4

2016

Ok, there are clearly two problems with Justin Harper’s approach to green energy, among so many others. Here, read this, then read on to see what Canada should look like: The declining cost of rooftop solar panels — down over 90 per cent since 2000 — has offered hope for increasing small-scale electricity generation. Industry ...

We Pivot: You Probably Already Support Postal Banking Too

Oct

28

2016

CUPW, the union for Canada Post workers, has had some innovative ideas lately which the Harper and Trudeau governments are, not surprisingly, not too keen on. Both governments pursue a neoliberal privatization agenda. Public services like CBC and Canada Post provide no profit layer to companies because they exist as public services. Privatizing them lets ...

Politics and its Discontents: Magical Thinking, No; Progress, Yes

Feb

9

2016

As every critically-aware person well knows, we are facing some pretty daunting challenges; the most pressing is clearly climate change, more urgent with each passing day as we are regularly reminded of the ravages it is wreaking around the world. Responses continue to range from denial, complacence and magical thinking to outright proclamations of doom. ...

Writings of J. Todd Ring: Big oil, pipelines, Trudeau, and energy security for Canada

Nov

12

2015

Why does the Canadian government continue to subsidize the oil industry with billions of dollars a year when the environmental crisis demands the opposite, and when investment in energy efficiency, conservation and green energy create many more jobs? Why does Canada import 40% of the oil we consume when we produce enough to meet all ...

350 or bust: The Time Is Now

Jul

30

2015

In the United States, the transition to a clean energy economy is already underway. Climate-concerned citizens are calling on candidates in next year’s federal election to show their plan to power the country with 50% clean energy by 2030. The time for a job-creating, climate-stabilizing clean energy revolution is NOW. * Go to https://nextgenclimate.org/ to ...

Progressive Proselytizing: Ontario’s brave new cap and trade program

Apr

3

2015

The Globe and Mail just broke the story on what will likely be the defining component of Kathleen Wynne’s legacy: The Ontario Liberals are introducing a big cap and trade plan. Details are sparse as yet, but it looks like they will be joining the Quebec/California regime. This is huge news, especially given Ontario’s relative prominence ...

Progressive Proselytizing: Ontario’s brave new cap and trade program

Apr

3

2015

The Globe and Mail just broke the story on what will likely be the defining component of Kathleen Wynne’s legacy: The Ontario Liberals are introducing a big cap and trade plan. Details are sparse as yet, but it looks like they will be joining the Quebec/California regime. This is huge news, especially given Ontario’s relative prominence ...

Progressive Proselytizing: Ontario’s brave new cap and trade program

Apr

3

2015

The Globe and Mail just broke the story on what will likely be the defining component of Kathleen Wynne’s legacy: The Ontario Liberals are introducing a big cap and trade plan. Details are sparse as yet, but it looks like they will be joining the Quebec/California regime. This is huge news, especially given Ontario’s relative prominence ...

atypicalalbertan.ca: 9 ways Alberta should manage resources better

Nov

8

2014

Sometime toward the end of November, the Alberta government will release their 2nd quarter fiscal update. Finance Minister Robin Campbell will likely tell us that the second quarter was another good quarter but that the good news is coming to an end and the 1st quarter projection of a $3 Billion bonus will be revised. The reason of course ...

atypicalalbertan: 9 WAYS ALBERTA SHOULD MANAGE RESOURCES BETTER

Nov

8

2014

Sometime toward the end of November, the Alberta government will release their 2nd quarter fiscal update. Finance Minister Robin Campbell will likely tell us that the second quarter was another good quarter but that the good news is coming to an end and the 1st quarter projection of a $3 Billion bonus will be revised. The reason of course ...

BigCityLib Strikes Back: Wind Energy In Ontario: The State Of Play

Aug

5

2014

The controversy around Ontario’s Green Energy Act has faded since the OLP won their majority. Konrad Yakabuski can whine as much (and as inaccurately) as he wants, but Ontario anti-wind activists are basically left to pound sand for the next couple of years, losing in court and before the Ontario ERT and handing lawyer Eric Gillespie ...

Politics and its Discontents: A Mound Of Sound Guest Post: The Relentless Growth of CO2

May

28

2014

I put this item together a while ago but I was reminded of it today while reading a report from the WMO, the World Meteorological Organization, that April will go in the books as the first month in which atmospheric CO2 topped 400 ppm throughout the northern hemisphere. Not just one nasty region here or ...

Politics and its Discontents: Another Informed Star Reader

Mar

17

2014

Christine Penner Polle of Red Lake offers some observations that I suspect few but the most ardent ideologues would dispute: Re: Ottawa plans cuts to climate programs, March 12 Have we Canadians fallen down the rabbit hole? We are living in a Mad Hatter world where our federal government is slashing funding to Environment Canada’s ...

Politics and its Discontents: Ingenuity And Goodwill

Dec

7

2013

Sometimes, seemingly intractable problems can be solved through a combination of ingenuity and goodwill. This story, about a solar lamp that initially seemed out of the financial reach of African villagers, is one such example: Recommend this Post

BigCityLib Strikes Back: Wind Farm Opponents Out Six Figures

Jul

26

2013

A group of landowners who unsuccessfully sued a wind power developer and the farm corporation that leased it land have been ordered to pay legal costs of $107,370.78. The 21 landowners near Collingwood sued wpd Canada Corp. and Beattie Brothers Farms for more than $17 million over the plans to develop the wind farm, arguing ...

BigCityLib Strikes Back: Wind Energy And Property Values In Ontario, Part Whatever…

Apr

26

2013

An interesting decision came down this week re wind energy and property values in Ontario. Before getting to the actual contents of it, though, lets see how the thing is being spun. This piece from Farms.com is fairly typical: An Ontario Superior Court of Justice has determined that landowners living near industrial wind turbine projects ...